1969 Ford Mustang vs. 1982 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1982 Lotus Esprit is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 3,273 cc (6 cylinders), 1969 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1982 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1969 Ford Mustang. (120 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1982 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1969 Ford Mustang. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1969 Ford Mustang weights approximately 349 kg more than 1982 Lotus Esprit.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1969 Ford Mustang (257 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 36 more torque (in Nm) than 1982 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1969 Ford Mustang will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1982 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1969 Ford Mustang | 1982 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Ford | Lotus |
| Model | Mustang | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1969 | 1982 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 3273 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 257 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.7:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1416 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4770 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1290 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2750 mm | 2490 mm |
